BA (Hons) Design Furniture
This award is one of six BA (Hons) Design Pathways which are all part of the same scheme that has been created to parallel the multidisciplinary nature of contemporary design practice and the employment opportunities that have developed around emerging design disciplines.
Please note that you need only apply to one of the scheme’s Pathways, even if you have an interest in more than one, since it is possible to transfer between Pathways throughout the course. Your final award title will be agreed prior to graduation such that you graduate with the title most appropriate to your personal design practice.
Furniture design has a long and noble tradition as a vehicle for design education. Fundamental to furniture design is an understanding of human experience and how we interact with our surroundings in our everyday lives. Furniture is central to our existence and presents us with our most immediate and direct contact with the made world.
As a vehicle for understanding fundamental design issues, furniture design as a discipline has the advantages of combining functional engineering elements with human factors and a strong visual presence. Amongst other things, designers of furniture require an understanding of mechanics, structures, the properties of materials, visual impact, ergonomics, manufacturing processes and commercial imperatives; in addition they find themselves addressing issues of physiology, psychology, human behaviour and sustainability. The need to address and unite these often competing aspects is central to the process, demanding a creative, open and flexible approach.
Over the years the course has built up significant resources in areas such as commercial contacts, manufacturing expertise, sustainability, materials and human factors to support students in this field.
Employment opportunities for design graduates are more diverse than ever. Design consultancies, in-house design teams, small scale partnerships are expanding into areas such as concept design, design systems, brief development, research, presentation and communication, digital media. All offering possible routes into employment for creative design graduates, and while furniture design as practiced on the course is not aimed specifically at the designer maker, many graduates have successfully perused this route and set up their own design businesses.
Studying alongside students on the scheme’s other Pathways, the course introduces you to design principles and approaches fostering an investigative and experimental approach to resolving design briefs through creativity, an awareness of human needs, and the generation of new insights and ideas. We encourage reflection, flexibility and the independence to take increasing responsibility for focus of work, leading to self-initiated projects by the end of the course.
You have the opportunity to tackle ‘live’ briefs working with industrial partners and design consultancies, to study abroad as part of our exchange programme, and enter design competitions. Practical skills covered include applied textiles, graphic communication, multimedia design, ergonomics, copywriting and video, workshop experimentation and virtual modelling. An integrated programme of critical and contextual studies underpins the practice-based elements of the course. Through this you will gain knowledge of historical and contemporary design issues, engage with critical debate and develop research skills that enable you to rationalise, justify, promote and better develop design ideas.
The course has an optional fourth Masters year with exit points after one or three semesters offering Postgraduate certificate in design and Masters in Design respectively. This year includes a work placement and the potential for exploring the commercial potential for design projects.
There are various opportunities to visit Leeds Metropolitan University on Open Days which are held throughout the year. This is an opportunity to meet representatives from the course and see facilities. Click here to find the next open day.
Applicants who are invited for interview will meet staff and students at interview and have a guided tour of course specific facilities and studio space.
For further information contact our course administrator on 0113 812 3193 or or S.M.Ratcliffe@leedsmet.ac.uk
The general public can also see examples of student work by visiting the degree exhibition in Leeds, part of the University’s Arts Festival, and at the annual New Designers exhibition in London.